Permutation lock



g- 1930- .1. FELDMEYER 1,772,076

PERMUTATION LOCK Fild Nov. 7, 1927 Qiv I Zzuemm' W 2277.

Patented Aug. 5, 1930 JOSE! FELDMEYER, OF MUNICH, GERMANY PERMUTATION LOCK Application filed November 7, 1927, Serial No. 231,647, and in Germany July 29, 1927.

This invention relates to a permutationlock adapted to be used for trunks, portfolios, cupboards, doors and padlocks, and which is characterized in that the adjusting elements need not be adjusted on certain marks, as is the case in most types of permutation-locks of'known construction. An essential feature of the invention is, that any number of loose locking bodies are provided, which intersect the path along which the spring bolt is moved and which must be adjusted to a predetermined position, when the lock has to be unlocked. These locking bodies are all of the same outer shape and each of these locking bodies can be oscillated by means of a handle into three difierent positions,in which said locking elements are securely held by springs.

When any of the locking bodies is in the wrong position it is impossible to unlock the lock. The locking bodies are of such simple construction and of such small size that a great number of the same can be arranged in a small space. When ten locking bodies, each being'adapted to be adjusted to three different positions, are provided, 3 or 59049 adjustings are possible, of which only one is the correct position. The number of required adjusting-s may be determined bythe owner of the lock. By leaving a certain number of locking bodies permanently in the correct position, only a few locking bodies or -only one singlelocking body has to be adjusted. A slight difl'erence in the construction of the locking bodies, which is however not visible from the outer side, makes it necessary to give to these locking bodies. when adjusted into the unlocking position, another position than for the normal position of the other locking bodies, so that by these special locking bodies the lock can be locked already when they are being brought into the same position ,as the other locking bodies, this position being for these other locking bodies the unlocking position. Itis then impossible to see from the outer side which locking body has to be adjusted. Either all looking bodies will have to be adj usted or only one or several of these locking bodies in a succession which. only the owner knows.

Another essential feature of the invention is that the locking bodies are loosely inserted and covered and held in their bearings by 65 means of a comb shaped retaining plate which, when the lock is opened, can be pulled out so that all locking bodies are accessible and can be interchanged at will. The owner of the lock must of course remember at which points the abnormal locking bodies have been inserted. After the re-insertion of the comb shaped retaining plate after all the locking bodies have been inserted and arranged for the desired permutation-lock-action, the lock, with its changed combination, is ready for use.

A permutation-lock, according to the invention is shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section on line II of Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a top- Ian-view. F Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line I IIII of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the locking-bodies. In the drawing the lock is shown in the open position, the comb shaped retaining plate 10 being pulled out partly, this being done however only, when the'locking bodies are to be re-grouped. The most important parts of the lock are the locking bodies or tumblers 1 and 1 shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The locking body consists of a disk-shaped part and of a handle. In the disk-shaped part a short axle 2 is fixed. Each locking ody has in the rim of the disk-shaped part a notch, which either stands diametrically opposite the handle, as notch 3 in Fig. 4, or at a certain angle :to the diametrical line of the handle, as notch 3' in Fig. 6. The locking body shown in Fig. 4 is symmetrical or normal, that shown in Fig. 6 is unsymmetrical or abnormal. Each locking body has further two indentations 4 arranged symmetrically to the handle in either side of the disk-shaped part.

These locking bodies are inserted the one after the other into a bearing body. The' bearing body 5, which isconnected by rivets or isotherwise fixed to the casing, has slots 6, in the form of construction shown two semicircular cross-section which intersect the slots 6 at the middle. When the locking bodies are being inserted, the short axles; 2 of the same come into engagement with said grooves7. The bearing body 5 is fixed to the cover plate of the casing 8 at a short distance from said cover plate. Into the gapbetween the upper end of the bearing body 5 and the innersurface-of the cover plate of the casing a comb-shaped retainer plate 10 is inserted, the teeth of which engage between the looking bodies and securely holdthe axles 2 of the locking bodies in the bearing grooves 7 the locking bodies being thus secured against shifting in lateral directions. In the cover plate of the casing two oblong slots 11 are arranged through which the locking .bodies are to be inserted. The locking bodies andtheir hearing bodies are covered by the comb gshaped retaining plate 10 so that, through the slots 11 of the cover-plate of the casing,

only the comb shaped retaining plate and the handles of the locking bodies are visible which project between the-teeth of said comb shaped retaining plate. The handles of the locking bodies are covered by a lid 13, pivotally mounted on a pin 12, fixed in the coverplate, a knob 14 servinPg to secure the lid 13 in the closing position. Underneath the bearing body 5 a spring lockbolt 15 is shiftably mounted. This spring bolt 15 has two vertical ribs 16 extending in a longitudinal direction, each one accurately underneath the central lines of the corresponding row of locking bodies. These ribs 16. intersect the inserted locking bodies and engage with the notches 3, 3' respectively of the same. Under the spring-bolt 15 a plate spring 17, fixed to' the bearing body 5 is arranged. The springbolt 15 is shiftable as its short slot engages over the shaft of a screw-bolt 18, screwed from below into the lock casing. The platespring 17 is bent in U-shape around the two side walls of the bearing body 5 and the two arms 19 of the spring bear against the diskshaped parts of the locking bodies which project from the slots 6 of the bearing body 5. The plate spring 17 is subdivided by incisions 20 into sections which each bear against one looking body. The ends of the arms 19 of the plate-springs are rolled in an inward direction to form a bead engaging with the corresponding indentations 4 of the locking bod- .ies, which are thus securely held in the central position. y

All the locking bodies 1 and 1' are inserted into their hearings in opposition to the action of the arms 19 of the plate-spring 17 either in the central position or any other suitable position. Each rib 16 of the spring-bolt 15 comprises a plurality of rib members separated by and alternating in arrangement with recesses 21 adapted to receive the locking bodies, the disk-shaped part of said locking bodies engaging with one of these recesses 21, when the locking bodies are being inserted. The recesses 21 are disposed accurately underneath the locking bodies, when the spring-bolt 15 is in the locking position.-

When the spring-bolt is to be shifted into the unlocking position, its ribs ,16 must pass through the notches 3, 3' of the locking bodies. This is possible only whenall symmetrical locking bodies 1 are in the central position as shown in Fig. 3. When one of the locking bodies 1 is turned upward ordownward it prevents the free movement of the corresponding rib 16. In order to liberate the path .for the ribs-16 the handles of the unsym- .are located in the upper row as central looking bodies and so that their handles have to be turned upward to bring the notches 3' onto the path of rib 16. Two locking bodies 1' are inserted in the lower row as central looking bodies and so that their handles have to be turned down to bring their notches 3' onto the path of the rib 16. To shift the spring bolt 15 for unlocking the lock, the two central locking bodies 1 in the upper row and the two extreme locking bodies 1 in the lower row have-toremain in the central position, while in the upper row the handles of the two extreme locking bodies 1 have been turned upward and in the lower row the handles of the two central locking bodies 1 have been turned down. Normally, the lock being locked, all

locking bodies are preferably in the central position, the four locking bodies 1 .locking said spring-bolt. Any other adjusting may be selected, as for instance some locking bodies 1 may remain in the adjusted'position and only one or two or any other number of locking bodies will have to be adjusted, When the comb shaped retaining plate 10, which covers the journals of the "locking bodies, is pulled out, any locking body may be removed and interchanged against another locking body, so that the grouping may. be

' altered as desired. The comb shaped retaining plate 10 is secured in its covering position by a latch rod 22 fixed on a portion of the spring bolt, said rod havinga latch nose 23 which engages with the not'ch'24 of the plate cannot be inserted intovthe slot. If one holds the latch in the open position, the'nose 23 of rod 22 is at the side of the slot 9 of the casing and the comb shaped retaining plate can be removed or'inserted. The owner of the look, after the re-grouping of the locking bodies, cannot make the lock ready for use without seeing which posit-ion the locking bodies must assume for opening the lock.

The construction of the spring bolt may be 'diflerent according tothe utilization of the look. For portfolios and trunks the locking bolt can be constructed as shown in the drawings. It carries a knob 5, the shaft of which traverses a slot 26 of the casing. On the cover-plate of the casing a spring latch 27 is shiftably mounted by meansof-slots 28 thereinengaging retaining and guide studs or pins on said cover plate, and this latch has a longitudinal slot 29 through which the shank of the shifting knob projects. In.

the casing a slit 30 is further arranged through which a barbed hook 31 on the lid of the portfolio orof the trunk can penetrate into the lock. The latch has under the slot 30 an aperture 32 and a. tongue 33, extending into the range of slot 30. A spring 34 acts on the latch 27 and pushes the tongue 33 of the same into the range of slot 30. When the barbed hook 31, which is rounded, is pressed into slot 30, it pushes to the side the tongue 33 and by the same the latch 27 which, moving in its bearing slots 28 and 29, is

pushed back by the action of spring 34 to engage over hook 31. As the spring-bolt 15 has not to be shifted in this case, it is not necessary to adjust the locking bodies to the correct open position. The lock can therefore be locked: at any adjusting of the locking bodies, but for unlocking the look all the locking bodies have to be brought into the correct positionbefore the spring bolt 15 can be pushed back by the shifting knob 25' the latter moving also thelatch 27 so that it releases the barbed hook 31. On the drawing the spring bolt is shown pushed back into the open position, in opposition to the action of spring 34. j

I claim e 1. In a permutation lock the combination of a bearing body with a number of discshaped locking elements, each locking element having a short axle projecting at both .ends from the disc, the bearing body having slots in transverse direction and longitudinal grooves intersecting said transverse slots the locking elements inserted with their discs in said transverse slots and oscillatably mounted with their axles in said longitudinal grooves, a device for holding said locking, bodies in the bearing body, and a transverse spring bolt, shiftable with regard to said disc and adapted tobe locked by said discs.

2. In a permutation lock the combination of a bearing body with a number of discshaped locking elements, each locking element having a short axle projecting at both ends from the disc, the bearing body having rows of slots in transverse direction and longitudinal grooves intersecting said transverse slots the locking elements inserted with their discs in said transverse slots and oscillatably mounted with their axles in said longitudinal grooves, a device for holding said locking bodies in the bearing body, and a spring bolt with ribs transversely directed and shiftable with regard to the discs of the slots and with their axles into said longi- I tudinal grooves of said bearing body and to. be oscillated in the same, the disk-shaped part of said locking bodies projectinglaterally from the transverse slot of said bearing body, a number of springs, each spring acting upon the projecting disk-shaped part of .one looking body, said disk-shaped part of each locking body having an indentation in each side, beads on the ends of said springs engaging-with said lateral indentations of said locking bodies to secure said locking bodies in theiradjusted position, a device. for holding said locking bodies in their bearings, and a spring-bolt with ribs each rib corresponding to the notches of one row of locking bodies, said ribs having notches into which said locking bodies fit.

4. A permutation lock comprising a number of disk-shaped locking bodies having each a notch and a handle and a short axle,. a bearing body having transverse slots and semicircular longitudinal grooves said looking bodies being adapted to be inserted into said bearing body and to be oscillated in thesame, a casing having a slot in one side-wall above said bearing body, a comb shaped re-' tainer inserted through this slot and engag-- ing with its teeth between said locking bodies for holding the same in their bearings, means for locking said comb shaped retainer, when the lock is in the closed position, and a spring bolt having ribs intersecting the disk-shaped parts of said locking bodies'substantially as of said casing and engaging with its teeth be- I tween said locking bodies to securely hold the same in their bearings, means for locking said comb shaped retainer when the lock is in the locking position, a spring bolt, ribs on said spring-bolt intersecting the disk-shaped parts of the locking bodies, said spring bolt being mounted on said'bearing body and in said casing shiftable against the action of a spring and constructed so that it can be shifted into the open position only when said locking bodies are in the correct adjusting positions, a spring-controlled latch shiftably mounted on said casing and on said spring 7 bolt, a push knob on said spring-bolt projecting from said casing, said casing having a slot therein, and a barbed hook adapted to be inserted into said slot and engaged by said latch, substantially as described.

6. A permutation lock, comprising in combination a number of disk-shaped locking bodies, a bearing body, said locking bodies adapted to be inserted in rows into said bearing body and to be oscillated in the same, a casing having a slot in one side-wall, a bearing body fixed in said casing underneath said slot in the side-wall of the casing, a comb shaped retainer adapted to be.inserted into said. slot of said casing and engaging with its teeth between said locking bodies to securely hold the same in their bearings, a spring bolt, ribs on said spring bolt intersecting the disk-shaped parts of the locking bodies, said .spring bolt being mounted on said bearing body and in said casing, said lockingbodies and said ribs of said spring bolt being in engagement so that only at correct adg'lusting of the locking bodies shifting of sai spring bolt is possible, a springcontrolled latch on said spring belt, a rod on a part of said spring-bolt, and a locking nose at the end of said rod the comb shaped retainer having a notch and said locking nose of said rod engaging with said notch when said spring bolt is locked and said retainer is inserted in the slot in the casing.

7. In a permutation lock, a'lock casing provided wit open bearings, a plurality of diskshaped locking members independently and removably journaled in said bearings for 0scillating movement, each member having a and a locking element having alternating projections and recesses to respectively engage the radlal slots in the locking members to hold said members from oscillation and to a receive the body portions of said members and permit oscillation thereof.

8. In a ermutation lock, a lock casing provided wit open bearings, a plurality of diskshaped locking members independently and removably journaled in said bearings for os- 'cillating movement, each member having a radial slot and an adjusting handle arranged in a predetermined position with respect to said slot, a movable comb-shaped retainer plate common to all of said locking members for holding the locking members journaled in the open bearings and movable to a position to permit removal of any locking member from its bearing and the insertion of another locking member in its place, and a locking element having alternating projections and recesses to respectively engage the radial slots in the locking members tohold said members from oscillation and to receive the body portions of said members and permit oscillation thereof.

9. In a permutation look, a lock casing provided with open bearings, a plurality of diskshaped locking members independently and removably journaled in said bearings for oscillating movement, each member having a radial slot and an adjusting handle arranged in a predetermined position with respect to said slot, a retaining device common to all of said locking members for holding the disks journaled in the open bearings and movableto aposition to permit removal of any locking member from its bearing and the insertion of another locking member in its place,

a locking element having alternating projections and recesses to respectively engage the radial slots in the locking members to hold said members from oscillation and to receive the body portions of said members aline with the bodies of said members.

10. In a ermutation look, a lock casing provided wlth open bearings, a plurality of disk-shaped locking members independently and removably journaled in said bearings for oscillating movement, each member having a ings and movable to a position to release and radial slot and an adjusting handle arranged permit. of the removal of any body from its in a predetermined position with respect to bearing, and .a lock bolt having rows of said slot, .a sliding comb-sha ed retaining spaced ribs and recesses for coaction with the plate common to all of said loc ing members rows of locking bodies.

forholding the locking members journaled .in the open bearings and movable to a position to permit removal of any locking memher from its bearing and the insertion of another locking member in its place, a locking element having alternating projections and recesses to'respectively engage the radial slots in the locking members to hold said members from oscillation and .to receive the body portions of said members and permit oscilla tion thereof, and means for locking the comb shaped retaining plate from movement when the ribs of the locking element are engaged with the slots of the locking bodies and releasing said plate from movement when the recesses of the locking element arealined with the bodies of the locking members.

11. In a permutation look, a lock case, a

plurality of disk-shaped locking bodies each having a-i'adial notch and a handle of a pre determined relation with respect to each other, said bodies being oscillatably journaled in the lock case for independent insertion and removal, a lock bolt having projections to when the bolt is retracted.

engage the notches in the locking bodies when alined to permit sliding movement of the bolt and prevent oscillating movement of any of the locking bodies when the bolt ist-hrown and having recesses to receive the locking bodies and permit oscillation thereof when the bolt is retracted; a retainer movable to different positions to hold the locking bodies from removal and to release them and permit of their removal, and means governed by the bolt to normally lock the retainer in holding position until the bolt is retracted and release it for releasing movement 12. In a permutation lock, a lock case'having-open bearings, a plurality of disk-shaped locking members eac handle of a restricted'fix'ed relationship, the

having a notch and a notches in some of the locking bodies being symmetricalto and the notches in others of the locking bodies being unsymmetrical with regard to the handles of said bodies, said bodies being journaled for oscillation and I independent insertion and removal in said open bearings, and a lock bolt having ribs corresponding to the notches in the locking bodies and recesses alternating with the ribs. 7 spaced tolcorrespond to the-spacing of the bodies.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

JOSEF FELDMEYER.

which said bodies are jqurnaled for oscilla tion and independent insertion-and removal, a device forholdmg said bodies in their bearlao 

